UNDP in Jordan

Launching of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2013-2017 for Jordan

12 Sep 2012

Part of the audience at the launch event

The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the United Nations Heads of Missions in Jordan launched the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2013-2017 for Jordan, on Wednesday, 12 September 2012, at 10:00 am in The Royal Cultural Center, Conferences Hall.

Various Jordanian Government Bodies, Embassies, National and International Non-Governmental Organizations, representatives from Civil Society Organization and Donor Agencies attended the ceremony.

Ms. Costanza Farina, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Jordan, opened the event with a welcome address, followed by a speech conveyed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation on behalf of H.E. Jafar Abed Hassan, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation. Ms. Majida Al Assaf, UNDP Programme Manager presented a General Overview of the UNDAF process.

The launch of the UNDAF marked a new chapter of the UN-Government of Jordan partnership over the coming five years, reaffirming the mutual commitment to work in a concerted and effective manner.

Within this context of political and economic changes, the preparation of the UNDAF was undertaken through a participatory process to formulate an adequate joint response of the UN Country Team (UNCT), the Government of Jordan and the stakeholders, to the national development priorities with the view to contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and beyond. Four strategic priority areas have been identified: Enhancing Systemic Reform, Ensuring Social Equity, Investing in Young People, and Preserving the Environment, all fully aligned with Jordan’s national socio-economic plans: the National Agenda 2006-2015 and the Executive Development Programme 2011-2013.

H.E Secretary General of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation affirmed that achieving sustainable development requires strengthening the building blocks of democracy and establishing efficient and effective social, economic and political organizations which respond to citizens needs.

During her address, Ms. Farina highlighted that the UNDAF constitutes a robust mechanism to foster coherence, relevance, effectiveness and efficiency within the UN development system, particularly at the country level, and to reduce transaction costs on national government. She concluded by quoting the UN Secretary General at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development: “Rio+20 has given us a solid platform to build on. And it has given us the tools to build with. The work starts now.”

The Government of Jordan and the UN development system reassert their will to strengthen the cooperation within the new programme cycle in order to effectively address the challenging national development priorities.